Display device.



No. 821,242. IQATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

y P. F. HQUGH.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FER?. 1905.

FRANK F. HOUGH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

DISPLAY DEVHGE.

S-pecication of Letters Patent.`

`Patenteoi May 22, 1906.

Application filed Fbruay '7, 1905. Serial No. 244.635.

' ments in Display Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in display devices, and embodies. a plurality of superimposed sections movable independently or in groups, so that the 4sections can be successively exposed or any one immediately exposed by si* multaneously moving all of the sections overlying the one desired for observation.

My improvement is shown as serving as a telephone directory, -in which any desired name can be brought into proper position for observing the corresponding phone-number. Itis obvious, however, that this is merely a preferred embodiment.

The primary object is to provide a device of the nature indicated which is simple in construction, practical, and capable 0f ready and easy manipulation.

Further objects and advantages will be set forth in the following description and those features of novelty upon which I desire protection defined in the appended claims.

In .the accompanyingdrawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the present invention applied to the mouthpiece of a telephone. Fig. 2 is a face view thereof removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view-in perspective of a few of the sections removed from the supporting-base. Fig. 4t is a section through the base, and Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of" the strengthening-strips.

In carrying out my invention I rovide a base 1, having a centrally-arrangetf)sleeve 2, through which the mouthpiece of the telephone passs.

3 indicates the movable sections, which are arranged one on the other and formed with central openings 4,' whereby they can be mounted for rotation on sleeve 2. These sections are cut out from the openings 4 to their edges, soas to produce opposite free ends. Only one end of each section is exposed, and these exposed ends of the respective sections are normally slightly spaced apart, (see Fig. 1,) so that their extensions 5 can be more readily grasped by the operator when he desires to move any of the sections. The top or outer section has its unexposed end arranged under the exposed end of the .lower section, (indicated at 32) so that it travels in a spiral path, and the remaining underlying sections are all guided by the top section, so that they when operated will follow the said top section and move below the exposed end of the lower section, all of the sections, however, maintaining their same overlapped positions relatively to each other. Thus, for example, if a party desires the phone-number of a party whose name is classified in B section the rst section bearing all names beginning with A is rotated by the operator lwho. grasps the exten- `sion 5, the succeeding sections being held from movement by a flat spring-catch 6, which is secured to the base and bears on the edges of the sections. This section during its movement passing beneath the last section is therefore almost entirely removed from the second section, and all of the names arranged on the second section are therefore exposed. Continuing the operation, this section is then swung so as to again underlie the Afirst section, and the names arranged on the third are then exposed. The remaining sections can be passed through similar operations, or any number of sections can be simultaneously moved, thereby more quickly exposing the desired sections.

7 indicates a ring which is secured to the outer end of the sleeve for' preventing displacement of the sections.l

Strengthening-strips, as A8, are secured along the exposed ends of thesections, and

the outer end portions of these strips are .bent

to form clips 9, which project beneath the underlying sections, so as to slidably engage l the same, thereby preventing the accidental raising of one section from the other.

Eit er the extensions 5 or the strips 8 can be engaged by the operators'fmgers to rotate the sections. f In turning to the left when the strips 8 are engaged by the finger itv will be seen that the spring-catch 6 will ride over the inclined edges of the extensions 5 of the section engaged and those preceding the same, while the succeeding sections which follow by reason of frictional engagement with the rotated sect-ions will be arrested from further movement by engagement with the catch 6.

As stated in the foregoing, the exposed ends of the sections are normally spaced IOO IOS

to disp aying devices wherein overlying surfaces are successively displayed, and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations and chan es as fall Within the scope of the appended c aims. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desirej to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A display device comprising a plurality of superimposed rotatably-mounted sections,

lalphabetical seriesv otsuperimposed disks roand clips carried by the sections, the clip of one section slidably engaging the underlying-l section. y 2. A display device comprising a plurality v of superimposed rotatably-mounted sections,

and means carried by each section for engagement with the adjacent -section to prevent the raising of the outer portion of one section from the other.

3. A display device comprising a plurality of sections arranged one on the other, said sections beingpprovided with clips said clip's serving as inger-pieces and the clip of one section slidably engaging another section on p one side thereof.

4. A telephone-directory, comprising top, bottom and intermediate superimposed sections, rotatably mounted, each section being' formed with'a slit extending from'its center to its outer edge forming opposite free portions, the top section having a portionl thereof extending through the slits of the intermediate and bottom sections and having one of its free portions arranged beneath the bottom section. v.

5. A display device comprising a base, a plurality-ofv sections rotatable on said base, said sections being provided with outwardlyprojecting portions, adapted to be engaged by the operator for shifting theI sections and a spring-catch extending from the base for engagement with lthe outwardly-projecting portion of one of said sections.

4 6. A telephone-directory comprising an alphabetical series of superimposed disks rotatable on a common axis, eacli disk being slitted from its center to its periphery forming right and left hand free ends, the lefthand free ends of the entire series being ex' posed in stepped relation, the right-hand free r ends being arranged to be moved beneath th lowest of said leftshand ends.

L A telephone-directory comprising an tatable on a common axis, each disk being slitted from its center 'to its periphery forming ri ht and left hand free ends, the lefthand e'e ends being exposed in stepped relation, and means on the left-hand free ends for engagement with the free end of the adj acent underlying disk.

8. A telephone-directory comprising a plurality of superimposed rotatable disks, each slitted from its center to its periphery formf ing right and left hand free portions, the lefthand free portions being provided with clips embracing the periphery of the next adjacent underlying disk, the clip on each underlying disk being arranged for engagement with the clip of the adjacent overlying disk, whereby relative rotation between the disks will be arrested. I

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 28th day of January, 1905.

FRANK F. HOUGI-I. `Witnessesz lJOHN W. FILKINs,

S. B. FOLEY. 

